Improvement in railway-ties



NITED STATES GEORGE D. BLAISDELL, OF CAMBRIDGE, VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENTA IN RAILWAY-TIES.

Specification forming part of LettersPatent No.1116,376, dated January 13; 1S74; application filed June 14,1873.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE D. BLAIsDELL,

` of Cambridge, in the county of Lamoilleand State of Vermont, have invented certain Improvements in Metallic Railway-Ties, of which the following is a speciication:

This invention is designed to substitute iron for wood in the constrnctionof railway-ties,

and to provide a strong, durable, and elastic support for the rails, constituting a part of the permanent way. l

Figure l is a side view and partial central i `vertical longitudinal sectional view-of a rail-E way-tie made according to my invention. Figa 42 is a vertical transverse section of the same, y taken in the line x a: of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is` a plan view of the same.

The body or main portion A of the tie is of' cast-iron, formed in one piece. In each end of this body or casting is provided a rectangular t socket, indicated at A', and open at the top and outer end." From the inner ends of these socketed eXtreme portions of the body A the upper lateral portions are slopedaway, as shown at B,to give the main length of the y said body in its cross-section a triangular or arched external form. The under side of this just specified portion of the body is recessed to corresponding shape, as shown at B2 in Figs. l and 2; this shape being given to the body A, unites therein the maximum of strength and stability when laid with the greatest practicable economy of material.

Across the outer ends of the bottoms of the sockets A are upwardly-projecting ridges or ilanges a', which serve to keep-from sliding out the rubber blocks hereinafter mentioned. At the top of each of the said sockets are four inwardly-projecting studs, b, one at each corproximating the axis of the latter, are holes or slots a. The blocks B are bored with holes, which, when the said blocks are arranged in the` sockets, are coincident with those marked a in the body A. The wronghtiron rod O is passed through the holes in the blocks B, as

of a train upon the track. Upon each of the y blocks B is placed achair, D, composed of two parts. Each of these parts comprises a hat foot-plate, f, which rests upon the block B, and a portion curved upward. When the two parts of the chair are placed in position, each upon the block, the flange of' the rail G is griped above by the lips f2 of the said parts, and below by the inner portions of the foot- Vplates f. The blocks B o, and their surround` ings and adjuncts, are so proportioned that when arranged as set forth the outermost corners of each will be brought snugly underneath the contiguous stub b, and thereby held against displacement in an upward direction. The edge of the inner one of the two parts of each chair is crowded against the rigid surface presented at the end of the socket, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, while the outermost part" of the chair is crowded irmly against the rail to clutch and hold the same, as previously herein described, and held against end movement away from the rail by being rigidly spiked to the block B, as shown at c.

It will be seen that the form given to the body A insures great strength with comparatively little material; that the rod O holds the blocks B in their places, and, at the same time, by trussing the body A, gives it greater power of resistance to strain vertically exerted. The india-rubber blocks c also give a cushioned support to the rail G, which nulliiies'in a great measure the evil results of the constant jarring y and concussion experienced in the running of trains upon ordinary rigidly-supported tracks.

The wooden blocks, while capable of use with out the rubber, when a minor degree ot'` elasticity in the track is desired, afford a broad bearing upon the rubber to secure to the full extent the efficient operation'of the same, and the chairs, constructed as described, may be adjusted to firnily hold rails having ilanges of varying width, the studs b being arranged to hold them against vertical displacement, While the abutting inner surfaces of the sockets aiord an endwise bearing to the inner parts of each chair, and the retention of the chairs in position with the lea-st possible number of spikes is provided for.

When, for any reason, the considerable degree of elasticity given by the use of the rubber blocks c is not desired, the latter may be dispensed with, the Wooden blocks being niade of such size as to ill the sockets to the requisite extent. In still other cases, When preferred, the rubber blocks may be placed above and the Wooden blocks below, when arranged in the sockets. It Will also beunderstood that the sloping contour given to the surface of the tie at BI enables the Wheels of a train, in the event of running ort' the track, to mount and pass over the ties, instead of crushing the same by a direct impact, as would otherwise occur.

That I claim as my invention is- 3. The rail-holding chairs-D, composed of Y the plates f, each constructed With a rail-holding lip, f2, and arranged, with reference to the rails, substantially as and for the purpose specified. .Y

4. The arrangement, with reference to .the chairs D, constructed and Yapplied inthe inanner set forth, of the rigid studs b, substantially as andtor the purpose specified.

GEO. D. BLAISDELL.

Titnesses C. D. GATES, M. V. PARKER. 

